Cylindrical object dispenser having reciprocating trap chamber

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for selectively discharging an object such as a ball-point pen from a supply of such objects to be stored in a hopper of the apparatus. The hopper has a bottom member mounted for selective recirpocation along a substantially horizontal path to and from a closed position for releasing at least one of the objects therefrom. The objects released from the hopper are collected in a vertically extending chute and are positioned therein one above another on top of the bottommost object in the chute. A plunger is mounted beneath the chute for selective movement between a first position and a second position. When the plunger is in the first position, the bottommost object is dropped from the chute into a passage defined in one end of the plunger. When the plunger moves to the second position, the bottommost object drops from the passage and is thus selectively discharged from the apparatus.

United States Patent [191 Blundin June 18, 1974 HAVING RECIPROCATING TRAP Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves CHAMBER Assistant ExaminerDavid A. Scherbel [75] Inventor: Albert R. Blundin, Magnolia, NJ. [73] Assignee: U.S. Pencil and Stationary Co., a [57] ABSTRACT division of Cadence Industries An apparatus for selectively discharging an object Corporatlon, shenyvlnei Telmsuch as a ball-point pen from a supply of such objects [22] Filed: June 30 1972 to be stored in a hopper of the apparatus. The hopper has a bottom member mounted for selective recirpo- PP Flo-1267304 cation along a substantially horizontal path to and from a closed position for releasing at least one of the [52] US. Cl. 221/175, 221/276 Objects therefrom-The oblects released f the [511 Int Cl 365g 59/02 per are collected in a vertically extending chute and 58] Fieid 276 292 are positioned therein one above another on top of the 1 4 bottommost object in the chute. A plunger is mounted beneath the chute for selective movement between a 56] References Cited first position and a second position. When the plunger is in the first position, the bottommost object is UNITED TA PATENTS droppedfrom the chute into a passage defined in one Glllllal'ld X end of the plunger when the plunger moves to the l second position, the bottommost object drops from eavey 1,449,864 3/1923 Lillis 22l/264 x 2 2255553 and thus selectvely dscharged from FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLlCATlONS 1,054.902 4/1959 Germany 221/264 8 Clam, 7 D'awmg F'gures h S ,1? 12- O OO'OOOoOO0OObO O3 0 J o o D 4/ 35 i CYLINDRICAL OBJECT DISPENSER PATENTEDJUM 18 mm 1 SHEEF 2 [If Q CYLINDRICAL OBJECT DISPENSER HAVING RECIPROCATING TRAP CHAMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for selectively discharging an object from a supply of such objects, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for inserting an object such as a ball-point pen selectively discharged from a supply of such objects into envelopes being advanced past the apparatus.

Many types of businesses have found that advertising through the mails is an efficient and profitable way to reach the potential market for their goods and services.

One reason this form of advertising has been found to I be economical and profitable is that in many instances a particular business can more specifically select the group of potential customers to whom to direct their advertising material than they can by other forms of advertising. Another reason for the success of mail advertising is that machines have been developed which will automatically stuff or insert one or more pieces of paper having the advertising printed thereon into preaddressed envelopes and seal the envelopes in preparation for mailing.

However, many advertisers of small, relatively inexpensive products also like to include a sample of their product in the pre-addressed envelope. For example, many businessmen distribute ball-point pens to their customers that have printed material appearing thereon advertising their business or the products which they sell. Before they purchase a large quantity of these pens, the businessmen generally like to see a sample of what they will receive. Thus, when such ballpoint pens are advertised by mail, it is customary for the advertiser to include a sample pen in the envelope along with other advertising material relating to the sample pen.

Although there are known machines for selectively discharging cylindrical objects from a supply of such objects into a container therefor (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 522,139 issued June 26, 1894 for a Machine for Selecting and Boxing Cigarettes), there has heretofore been no machine available that would automatically insert an elongated object such as a ballpoint pen into the pre-addressed envelopes, and the task has been accomplished by hand. The cost of this type of mail advertising was thus increased beyond the added cost of the sample because of the need for additional personnel to insert the object into each of the envelopes. Further, the speed of the automatic envelope-stuffing machines had to be reduced to compensate for the slower manual insertion of the pens into the envelopes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus which will insert an object such as a ball-point pen into each envelope of a series of envelopes as they are being ad-.

vanced past the apparatus by an envelope-stuffing machine.

lt will become apparent from the description to follow that the apparatus of the present invention will not only selectively discharge balLpoint pens from a supply of pens, but will also selectively discharge other objects from a supply of such objectsJFor example, the apparatus can also selectively discharge other elongated objects having a length somewhat greater than their width and particularly elongated objects having a generally cylindrical shape. Further the apparatus will selectively discharge non-elongated objects such as spherical objects. Thus, it will be seen that the object to be selectively discharged by the apparatus does not constitute the essence of the present invention.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a hopper for storing a supply of the objects such as ball-point pens and for selectively releasing a ball-point pen from the hopper. The hopper has a bottom member which reciprocates in a horizontally extending plane to and from a closed posi tion. In the closed position, the bottom member completely covers the bottom of the hopper and retains the pens in the hopper. As the bottom member reciprocates from the closed position, an elongated opening is formed along one side of the bottom of the hopper. Thus, when the pens are placed in the hopper with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to the path of travel of the bottom member, at least one pen is released through the opening in the bottom of the hopper when the bottom member reciprocates from the closed position.

The apparatus also includes a plunger mounted beneath the'hopper for movement between a first position and a second position along the upper surface of a base member of the apparatus. The plunger preferably has an elongated passage formed at the end portion of the plunger nearest the second position thereof and extending between the upper surface and lower surface of the plunger. Thus, the elongated passage and the upper surface of the base member define an elongated cup for receiving and transferring a pen to be positioned therein. When the plunger is in the first position or moving between the first position and the second position, the lower opening of the elongated passage is blocked by the upper surface of the base member which permits a pen to be retained therein. When the plunger moves to the second position, the elongated passage extends past the front side of the base member of theapparatus so that a pen contained therein will drop down the front of the base member for insertion into one of the envelopes.

The pens released from the hopper are collected by the vertically extending chute and are delivered to the plunger for discharge from the apparatus. The vertically extending chute has an upper opening for receiving the pens and a lower opening for depositing the pens in the passage of the plunger. The upper opening of the chute is preferably disposed along the one side of the hopper and beneath the opening to be formed in the bottom of the hopper so that the pens can be guided into, or will drop into, the chute. The lower opening of the chute is disposed above the upper surface of the plunger and aligned with the passage in the plunger when the plunger is in the first position so that the bottommost pen in the chute will be dropped directly into the passage and be retained therein by the upper surface of the base member. The remainder of the pens collected by the chute are positioned thereby one above another on top of the bottommost pen. When the plunger moves from the first position the upper surface thereof is drawn across the lower opening in the chute thereby abutting the next bottommost pen in the chute and preventing the pens contained in the chute from dropping as the plunger begins to discharge the bottommost pen from the apparatus for insertion into an envelope. When the bottommost pen has been inserted into an envelope and the plunger returns to the first position, the next bottommost pen in the chute drops into the passage which is again aligned with the lower opening in the chute and the other pens index downwardly accordingly.

The apparatus of the present invention can cooperate with an envelope-stuffing machine to insert an object such as a ball-point pen into each of the envelopes 7 being stuffed thereby. Envelope-stuffing machines are well known in the art and generally include a means for intermittently advancing a series of envelopes along a predetermined path with the opening of each envelope facing one side of the path. Such machines also typically include one or more stations or hoppers where the sheets of paper or the like to be stuffed thereby are placed. The envelope-stuffing machine gathers one or more sheets of paper from each hopper and transfers the gathered material to a position on the one side of the path and adjacent thereto. As each envelope reaches a predetermined point on the path opposite the gathered material the envelope is opened and the gathered material is inserted therein.

As will become more apparent hereinafter, the apparatus of the present invention is preferably disposed adjacent the predetermined point on the predetermined path on the one side thereof and above the elevation of the envelopes at the predetermined point. The apparatus is positioned with the front side of the base member facing towards the opening of the envelope advancing past the apparatus but spaced apart therefrom. When the plunger drops the bottommost pen down the front of the base member, the pen can be guided into the opened envelope. For example, one means for guiding the pen into the opened envelope includes a pair of curved guide members which contact the falling pen and change the direction of travel thereof approximately 90 towards the predetermined path so that it enters the opened envelope along with the gathered material being stuffed therein by the envelope-stuffing machine.

It is apparent from the above description that the apparatus of the present invention provides a means for selectively discharging an object such as a ball-point pen from a supply of such objects. In addition, it is apparent that the apparatus of the present invention can cooperate with an envelope-stuffing machine to insert an object into each of a series of envelopes being stuffed by the machine.

These advantages of the present invention, as well as further objects and features of the present invention, will be better understood from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the apparatus mounted on an envelopestuffing machine ad jacent the point thereon where the envelopes are opened for stuffing.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 from the opposite side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an envelope having been stuffed with material and having a pen inserted therein.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a supply of pens stored in the hopper, a quantity of pens contained in the vertically extended chute and an envelope being opened in preparation for the insertion of a pen therein.

FIG. 5 is the cross sectional view of FIG. 4 showing a pen being released from the hopper and the bottommost pen in the chute being inserted into the envelope.

FIG. 6 is a broken perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the bottommost pen of the quantity of pens contained in the vertically extended chute being placed in the passage of the plunger.

FIG. 7 is another broken perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the vertically extending chute and the plunger from the opposite side from the view of FIG. 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Now, referring to the Figures, the embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention illustrated therein generally includes base member 11, a vertical support member 12 mounted to the base member, an elevated hopper 13 for selectively releasing an object such as a ball-point pen from a supply of such objects stored therein, a vertically extending chute 14 for receiving objects released from the hopper and for positioning the bottommost object therein for discharge from the apparatus, and a reciprocator plunger 15 mounted on the base member for discharging the bottommost object from the apparatus, for example, for insertion into an envelope.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 is shown mounted on an envelope-stuffing machine for inserting an elongated object such as a pen into each envelope being stuffed thereby. As is well-known in the art, an envelope-stuffing machine generally includes a means for advancing a series of spaced-apart envelopes along a predetermined path generally indicated by the arrow A to a predetermined point generally indicated by the arrow B where each envelope is opened and stuffed with material gathered by the machine. Referring briefly to FIG. 3, each envelope E is advanced along the predetermined path A with the opening E opposite the bottom edge E" of each envelope facing towards one side of the predetermined path. The material to be stuffed into each of the envelopes is typically gathered from one or more stations or hoppers such as the one generally indicated by C and are advanced to a point generally indicated by D adjacent the predetermined point B and opposite the opening E in the envelope. When an envelope E advances to the predetermined point B and the gathered material F to be inserted therein is positioned opposite the opening in the envelope, the envelope is opened and the gathered material is stuffed therein. One means for opening the envelopes when they reached the predetermined point illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a suction means G well-known in the art which generally includes at least one suction cup G pivotally mounted adjacent to the predetermined point.

The elevated hopper 13 is provided to store a supply of ball-point pens and to selectively release at least one of the pens in a timed relationship with the envelopestuffmg machine. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the hopper 13 is preferably rectangular in shape and has an open top for placing the supply of pens H therein. The four vertically-extending walls of the hopper can be of conventional design. For example, the two opposing end walls 16 or 17 can be formed from rectangular plates which provide stiffening for the hopper. The other two opposing side walls 18 or 19 can be formed from a lighter material such as sheet metal. The hopper 13 is supported above the base member by mounting one of the end walls 16 or 17 thereof to the vertical support member 12.

The bottom 20 of the hopper is adapted for selectively releasing at least one ball-point pen therefrom. According to the present invention, the bottom 20 of the hopper 13 includes a bottom plate which is mounted across of the bottom of the hopper for reciprocation along a horizontally-extending path to and from a closed position. In the closed position shown in FIG. 4, one end 26 of the bottom plate 26 abuts the lower portion of the one wall 16 of the hopper so that the pens are retainedin the hopper. When the bottom plate 25 is reciprocated from the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, the one end 26 of the bottom plate 26 is spaced apart from the one end wall 16, thus defining an elongated opening therebetween for releasing at least one pen from the hopper.

The bottom plate 25 can be mounted forreciprocation across the bottom of the hopper 13 by various means. For example, as shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5 a bottom surface 27 of the hopper 13 can be formed by extending the sheet metal defining the other two opposing walls 18 and 19 of the hopper across the bottom of the hopper for supporting the bottom plate across the bottom of the hopper. The one end wall 17 is relieved to form an opening 28 through which the bottom plate 25 can reciprocate. At the other end of the hopper, the sheet metal forming the bottom surface 27 of the hopper is bent downwardly from the end wall 16 of the hopper, thus forming an opening through which the pens can be released.

One means for reciprocating the bottom plate 25 to and from the closed position is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown therein, the one end 26 of the bottom plate 25 is biased against the one end wall 16 of the hopper by a bias spring 29 attached between the other end 30 of the plate and the bottom surface 27 of the hopper. Thus, when the bottom plate 25 is urged in the direction of the arrow 1, the one end 26 of the plate will move away from the one end wall 16 of the hopper, thereby forming an opening through which at least one pen can be released from the hopper. When the urging ceases, the biased spring 29 will return the bottom plate 25 to .the closed position.

The bottom plate 25 can be urged in the direction of the arrow 1 in one of several ways. For example, a U- shaped bar 31 can be attached to the bottom plate 25, for example, by a machine screw 32 which extends through an opening 33 formed in the bottom surface 27 of the hopper. The U-shaped bar 31 extends around the other side of the vertical support 12 and has a rod 35 attached between the opposing end portions of the bar 31. Thus, when the rod 35 is urged in the direction of the arrow 1 in FIG. 4 the bottom plate 25 reciprocates from the closed position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the envelope-stuffing machine can be adapted to urge the bottom plate 25 in the direction of the arrow 1, for

example, by providing an arm 36 which provides in a timed relationship to the operation of the machine for selectively contacting the rod 35 and urging it towards the vertical support member 12, thereby selectively releasing pens from the hopper.

The vertically-extending chute 14 collects the objects such as the ball-point pens as they are selectively released from the hopper 13 and positions them one above another on top of the bottommost object therein for selective placement in the plunger 15 of the apparatus. The chute 14 has an elongated upper opening 40 for receiving the pens released from the hopper and an elongated lower opening 41 through which the pens are deposited in the plunger. As will be more apparent hereinafter, the lower opening 41 of the chute preferably extends approximately parallel to the upper surface of the plunger 1-5 and is spaced apart therefrom to permit the plunger to move beneath the lower opening. It

.willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that such a vertically-extending chute can be formed in many ways. For example, as shown in the Figures, the sides of the vertically-extending chute can be defined between the lower portion 42 of the vertical support member 12 and a plate 43 disposed on one side of the lower portion in an overlying relationship therewith and spaced apart therefrom. The plate is preferably spaced apart from the lower portion of the vertical support member a distance slightly greater than the width of the elongated objects to be collected in the chute. The ends of the chute are preferably closed to keep the pens in the chute and to align the pens one above the other. For example, a rectangular block 44, which can function to space the plate 43 from the lower portion 42 of the vertical support member 12, can be positioned along each of the ends of the chute. The blocks 44 are preferably spaced apart from one another a distance slightly greater than the length of the elongated objects to be collected by the chute. As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper portion of the plate is preferably flared outwardly to form a funnel shaped upper opening of the chute to more readily permit the pens to be received therethrough.

The plunger 15 is mounted to the base member 11 for reciprocation along the upper surface 45 thereof between a first position and second position. The base member 11 preferably has a rectangular upper surface 45 and a front face or side 46 extending perpendicular thereto. For example, the base member can be formed in the shape of an L, as illustrated in FIGS. 47. The plunger 15 is preferably formed from a rectangular plate disposed on the upper surface 45 of the base member 11 with the front side 47 thereof parallel to the front side 46 of the base member and mounted for reciprocation along a path extending approximately perpendicular to the front side 46 of the base member. For example, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper surface 45 of the base member can be relieved to form a rectangular groove 48 therein extending approximately along a portion of the bottom surface thereof which mates with the groove 48 formed in the upper surface of the base member, thereby guiding the plunger along the path extending approximately perpendicular to the front side of the base member. Further, it is preferable to provide a guide member 50 along each opposing ends 51 and 52 of the plunger 15 for retaining the ridge 49 formed on the plunger in the groove 48 formed in the base member and for guiding the plunger as it reciprocates. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the guide members 50 can include a rectangular block 53 attached to the upper surface 45 of the base member 11 with one side thereof adjacent a different one of the ends 51 and 52 of the plunger and parallel thereto. Each of the blocks has a rectangular plate 54 mounted to the upper surface thereto which overlies at least a portion of the upper surface 55 of the plunger for maintaining the plunger against the base member and for keeping the ridge 49 on the plunger engaged in the groove 48 in the base member.

The plunger has an elongated passage 58 formed adjacent the front side 47 portion thereof with the longitudinal axis of the passage extending substantially parallel to the front side 46 of the base member. The length of the elongated passage is at least as great as the length of the elongated object such as the ball-point pen to be placed therein. Similarly, the width of the elongated passage is at least as great as the width of the ball-point pen. When the plunger 15 is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 4, the elongated passage 58 is aligned with the lower opening 41 of the vertical chute 14 so that the bottommost pen contained therein will drop into the elongated cup defined by the elongated passage 58 and the upper surface 45 of the base member. When the plunger 15 moves from the first position the upper surface 55 thereof adjacent the elongated passage will be drawn across the lower opening 41 of the chute, thereby retaining the other ball-point pens in the chute. When the plunger 15 reaches the second position, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower opening 59 of the passage in the plunger will be free of the upper surface of the base member, and the bottommost pen will drop down the front side 47 of the base member 11. A means for guiding the falling bottommost pen, such as the pair of curved guide members 60 and 61, can be attached to the base member 11 for altering the direction of travel of the falling pen approximately 90 towards the predetermined path for insertion into one of the opened envelopes.

The passage in the plunger 15 can be formed in one of several ways. For example, referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, an L-shaped plate 65 can be attached to each of the opposite ends 51 and 52 of the plunger 15 adjacent the front side 47 thereof. A portion 66 of each of the L-shaped plates 65 on one side of the bend in each plate overlies a different one of the end portions 67 and 68 of the front side 47 of the plunger and are spaced apart therefrom. Thus, the front side 47 of the plunger and the one portion 66 of each of the L- shaped plates 65 form the two opposing sides of the elongated passage, while the other portion 69 of each of the L-shaped plates 65 extending away from the front side 47 of the plunger form the opposite ends of the passage. The portions 68 of the L-shaped plates 65 overlying the front side 47 of the plunger 15 which form theside of the passage most adjacent the second position of the plunger restrain the bottommost pen from traveling outwardly from the base member 11 when the plunger 15 reaches the second position and causes it to drop along a vertically-extending path down the front side 47 of the base member 11 and onto the guide members 60 and 61 attached thereto.

One means for reciprocating the plunger between the first position and the second position is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown therein, the plunger is biased in the first position by at least one bias spring 70 attached between the lower portions 42, vertical support member 12 and a block 71 attached to the upper surface 55 of the plunger 15. Thus, when the plunger is urged in the direction of the arrow 3 the plunger will move to the second position. When the urging ceases, the biased spring will return the plunger to the first position. The plunger 15 can be urged in the direction of the arrow 3 in one of several ways. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the envelope-stuffing machine can be adapted to urge the plunger in the direction of the arrow J, for example, by providing an arm 72 which reciprocates in a timed relationship to the operation of the machine for selectively urging the plunger 15 towards the second position, thereby selectively reciprocating the plunger 15 for releasing pens from the passage of the plunger.

Many ball-point pens have a clip attached to one end thereof for attaching the pen in a pocket. When such pens are to be selectively discharged from the apparatus, it is preferable to form a groove 73 on one side of the passage in the plunger, for example, along the front side 47 of the plunger 15 adjacent the end of the passage in which the clip of the pen will be positioned. Thus, when the bottommost pen is dropped from the chute 14 into the passage 58, the clip of the pen can nest in the groove 73 so that it will not interfere with the discharge of the pen from the passage. Similarly, it is preferably to form another corresponding groove 74 in the front side 46 of the base member 11 so that the pen can drop from the passage without interference from the clip thereon.

Other modifications and variations of the apparatus will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and they may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus for selectively discharging an object from a supply of elongated objects to be placed therein, the apparatus comprising a hopper being adapted for storing the supply of the objects to be placed therein and for selectively releasing at least one object therefrom, the hopper having four vertically extending side walls defining an upper rectangular opening between the upper edge portions thereof and a lower rectangular opening between the lower edge portions thereof, the upper opening being adapted for placing the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, the hopper having a bottom member extending across at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, the bottom member being a rectangular plate mounted across at least a portion of the lower opening in the hopper, the bottom member biased toward a closed position and being adapted for selective movement along a substantially horizontal path to and from the closed position by selective urging from the closed position, in the closed position at least one edge portion of the rectangular plate abuting the lower edge portion of one of the side walls of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member covering at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member being adapted for retaining the supply of objects in the hopper, when the bottom member moves from the closed position the bottom member forming an elongated opening in the bottom of the hopper, with the one of the edge portions of the rectangular plate spaced apart from the lower edge portion of the one side wall, the opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the objects from the hopper, a plunger means being adapted for selective movement between a first position and a second position, the plunger means having an upper surface and an end portion most adjacent the second position of the plunger means, the end portion being adapted for discharging one of the objects to be positioned at least adjacent the end portion when the plunger means moves to the second position, a vertically extending chute being adapted for collecting a quantity of objects to be released from the hopper and for positioning the quantity of objects one above another above the bottommost object in the chute, the chute having an elongated upper opening adapted for receiving the objects to be released from the hopper and an elongated lower opening, the lower opening being disposed above the upper surface of the plunger means and over a point at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger, when the plunger means is in the first position the lower opening being adapted for selectively placing the bottommost object contained in the chute at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger means, when the plunger means moves from the first position the upper surface of the plunger means blocking the lower opening in the chute, the end portion of the plunger means being adapted for discharging one of the elongated objects to be positioned at least adjacent the end portion when the plunger means moves to the second position, whereby when the plunger means selectively moves to the first position the bottommost object in the chute can be re leased from the lower opening of the chute and can be positioned at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger means, and when the plunger means blocks the lower opening in the chute for retaining the objects to be collected thereby and the plunger means can discharge the bottommost object from the apparatus.

2. An apparatus for selectively discharging an elongated object from a supply of such objects to be placed therein, the apparatus comprising a hopper being adapted for storing the supply of said elongated objects to be placed therein, the hopper being adapted for selectively releasing at least one of the elongated objects therefrom, a rectangular base member mounted beneath the hopper and having an upper surface disposed along a horizontally extending plane, a plunger member comprising a rectangular plate being mounted to the upper surface of the base member, the rectangular plate being adapted for reciprocation along the upper surface of the base member between a first position and a second position, the rectangular plate having an upper surface, a lower surface and a side portion most adjacent the second position of the plunger member, in the first position each of the sides of the rectangular plate being parallel to a different one of the sides of the base member, the rectangular plate being adapted for reciprocation along a path extending approximately perpendicular to the front side of the base member, the plunger member having an elongated passage formed adjacent the one side portion, of the rectangular plate nearest the front side of the base member, the longitudinal axis of the elongated passage is approximately parallel to the one side of the rectangular plate, the passage extending between the upper surface and the lower surface of the rectangular plate, the elongated passage being adapted for receiving an elongated member through the upper opening thereof, the one side portion overlying the upper surface of the base member and the uppersurface of the base member blocking the lower opening of the elongated passage in the rectangular plate and being adapted for retaining one of the elongated objects therein when the plunger member is in the first position or moving between the first position and the second position, when the plunger member is in the second position the passage of the rectangular plate extending past the front side of the base member with the lower opening of the passage being free from blockage by the upper surface of the base member, a vertically extending chute being adapted for collecting a quantity of elongated objects to be released from the hopper and for positioning the quantity of elongated objects one above another on top of the bottommost elongated object in the chute, the chute having a lower opening extending approximately parallel to the upper surface of the plunger member, the lower opening of the chute being positioned slightly above the upper surface of the plunger member, the lower opening of the chute being aligned with the passage formed adjacent the side portion of the plunger member when the 'plunger member is in the first position, the upper surface of the plunger member blocking the lower opening in the chute and being adapted for retaining the quantity of elongated objects therein when the plunger member moves from the first position, whereby when the plunger member moves to the first position the bottommost elongated object to be collected in the chute can be released therefrom and dropped into the passage formed at the end portion of the plunger member with the bottommost elongated object to be retained therein by the upper surface of the base member, when the plunger means moves from the first position the upper surface of the plunger member blocks the lower opening in the chute for retaining in the chute the elongated objects to be contained therein and the plunger member transfers the bottommost elongated object to be placedin the passage thereof towards the second position, and when the plunger member extends past upper surface of the base member and the bottommost elongated object to be placed therein can be dropped through the lower opening of the passage for discharge from the apparatus.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further defined wherein the elongated passage formed adjacent the one side portion of the rectangular plate is defined by the one side of the plate and two smaller plates, each of the smaller plates is bent in the shape of an L for defining a first portion on one side of the bend and a second portion of the other side of the bend, the one side of the rectangular plate extends between two opposing sides of the plate, the first portion of each of the two smaller plates is mounted to a different one of the end portions of each of the two opposing sides of the rectangular plate adjacent the one side thereof, the second portion of each smaller plate overlies a different one of the end portions of the one side of the rectangular plate and is spaced apart therefrom.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a means adapted for guiding the elongated object to be dropped through the lower opening .of the passage of the plunger member into a container to be provided therefore.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a means for biasing the plunger member in the first position, and further defined wherein the plunger member is adapted for being selectively urged to the second position.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further defined wherein the hopper has a bottom member extending across at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, the bottom member is adapted for selective movement along a substantially horizontal path to and from a closed position, in the closed position the bottom member covering at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member being adapted for retaining the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, when the bottom member moves from the closed position the bottom member forms an elongated opening in the bottom of the hopper, the elongated opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the objects from the hopper.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further defined wherein the bottom member of the hopper is biased towards the closed position thereof, and the bottom member is adapted for being selectively urged from the closed position.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further defined wherein the hopper has four vertically extending side walls defining an upper rectangular opening between the upper edge portions thereof and a lower rectangular opeing between the lower edge portions thereof, the upper opening being adapted for placing the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, and the bottom member is a rectangular plate mounted across at least a portion of the lower opening in the hopper, the rectangular plate being adapted for selective reciprocation along a substantially horizontal path to and from the closed position, in the closed position at least one edge portion of the rectangular plate abuts the lower edge portion of one of the side walls of the hopper, when the rectangular plate reciprocates from the closed position the one of the edge portions of the rectangular plate is spaced apart from the lower edge portion of the one side wall of the hopper for forming an elongated opening therebetween; the elongated opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the elongated objects from the hopper.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CETIFIGATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. I 3,817,424

DATED 3 June 18, 1974 NVENTOR(5) 3 Albert R. Blundin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Heading Item [73] "Shellyville" should read Shelby Ville Column 5, line 64 "provides" should read pivots Column 7, line 4 "thereto" should read thereof Signed and Bealcd this second Day Of September 1975 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissimzcr ()flatents and Trademarks 

1. An apparatus for selectively discharging an object from a supply of elongated objects to be placed therein, the apparatus comprising a hopper being adapted for storing the supply of the objects to be placed therein and for selectively releasing at least one object therefrom, the hopper having four vertically extending side walls defining an upper rectangular opening between the upper edge portions thereof and a lower rectangular opening between the lower edge portions thereof, the upper opening being adapted for placing the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, the hopper having a bottom member extending across at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, the bottom member being a rectangular plate mounted across at least a portion of the lower opening in the hopper, the bottom member biased toward a closed position and being adapted for selective movement along a substantially horizontal path to and from the closed position by selective urging from the closed position, in the closed position at least one edge portion of the rectangular plate abuting the lower edge portion of one of the side walls of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member covering at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member being adapted for retaining the supply of objects in the hopper, when the bottom member moves from the closed position the bottom member forming an elongated opening in the bottom of the hopper, with the one of the edge portions of the rectangular plate spaced apart from the lower edge portion of the one side wall, the opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the objects from the hopper, a plunger means being adapted for selective movement between a first position and a second position, the plunger means having an upper surface and an end portion most adjacent the second position of the plunger means, the end portion being adapted for discharging one of the objects to be positioned at least adjacent the end portion when the plunger means moves to the second position, a vertically extending chute being adapted for collecting a quantity of objects to be released from the hopper and for positioning the quantity of objects one above another above the bottommost object in the chute, the chute having an elongated upper opening adapted for receiving the objects to be released from the hopper and an elongated lower opening, the lower opening being disposed above the upper surface of the plunger means and over a point at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger, when the plunger means is in the first position the lower opening being adapted for selectively placing the bottommost object contained in the chute at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger means, when the plunger means moves from the first position the upper surface of the plunger means blocking the lower opening in the chute, the end portion of the plunger means being adapted for discharging one of the elongated objects to be positioned at least adjacent the end portion when the plunger means moves to the second position, whereby when the plunger means selectively moves to the first position the bottommost object in the chute can be released from the lower opening of the chute and can be positioned at least adjacent the end portion of the plunger means, and when the plunger means blocks the lower opening in the chute for retaining the objects to be collected thereby and the plunger means can discharge the bottommost object from the apparatus.
 2. An apparatus for selectively discharging an elongated object from a supply of such objects to be placed therein, the apparatus comprising a hopper being adapted for storing the supply of said elongated objects to be placed therein, the hopper being adapted for selectively releasing at least one of the elongated objects therefrom, a rectangular base member mounted beneath the hopper and having an upper surface disposed along a horizontally extending plane, a plunger member comprising a rectangular plate being mounted to the upper surface of the base member, the rectangular plate being adapted for reciprocation along the upper surface of the base member between a first position and a second position, the rectangular plate having an upper surface, a lower surface and a side portion most adjacent the second position of the plunger member, in the first position each of the sides of the rectangular plate being parallel to a different one of the sides of the base member, the rectangular plate being adapted for reciprocation along a path extending approximately perpendicular to the front side of the base member, the plunger member having an elongated passage formed adjacent the one side portion, of the rectangular plate nearest the front side of the base member, the longitudinal axis of the eLongated passage is approximately parallel to the one side of the rectangular plate, the passage extending between the upper surface and the lower surface of the rectangular plate, the elongated passage being adapted for receiving an elongated member through the upper opening thereof, the one side portion overlying the upper surface of the base member and the upper surface of the base member blocking the lower opening of the elongated passage in the rectangular plate and being adapted for retaining one of the elongated objects therein when the plunger member is in the first position or moving between the first position and the second position, when the plunger member is in the second position the passage of the rectangular plate extending past the front side of the base member with the lower opening of the passage being free from blockage by the upper surface of the base member, a vertically extending chute being adapted for collecting a quantity of elongated objects to be released from the hopper and for positioning the quantity of elongated objects one above another on top of the bottommost elongated object in the chute, the chute having a lower opening extending approximately parallel to the upper surface of the plunger member, the lower opening of the chute being positioned slightly above the upper surface of the plunger member, the lower opening of the chute being aligned with the passage formed adjacent the side portion of the plunger member when the plunger member is in the first position, the upper surface of the plunger member blocking the lower opening in the chute and being adapted for retaining the quantity of elongated objects therein when the plunger member moves from the first position, whereby when the plunger member moves to the first position the bottommost elongated object to be collected in the chute can be released therefrom and dropped into the passage formed at the end portion of the plunger member with the bottommost elongated object to be retained therein by the upper surface of the base member, when the plunger means moves from the first position the upper surface of the plunger member blocks the lower opening in the chute for retaining in the chute the elongated objects to be contained therein and the plunger member transfers the bottommost elongated object to be placed in the passage thereof towards the second position, and when the plunger member extends past upper surface of the base member and the bottommost elongated object to be placed therein can be dropped through the lower opening of the passage for discharge from the apparatus.
 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further defined wherein the elongated passage formed adjacent the one side portion of the rectangular plate is defined by the one side of the plate and two smaller plates, each of the smaller plates is bent in the shape of an ''''L'''' for defining a first portion on one side of the bend and a second portion of the other side of the bend, the one side of the rectangular plate extends between two opposing sides of the plate, the first portion of each of the two smaller plates is mounted to a different one of the end portions of each of the two opposing sides of the rectangular plate adjacent the one side thereof, the second portion of each smaller plate overlies a different one of the end portions of the one side of the rectangular plate and is spaced apart therefrom.
 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a means adapted for guiding the elongated object to be dropped through the lower opening of the passage of the plunger member into a container to be provided therefore.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a means for biasing the plunger member in the first position, and further defined wherein the plunger member is adapted for being selectively urged to the second position.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and further defined wherein the hopper has a bottom member extending acrosS at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, the bottom member is adapted for selective movement along a substantially horizontal path to and from a closed position, in the closed position the bottom member covering at least a portion of the bottom of the hopper, in the closed position the bottom member being adapted for retaining the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, when the bottom member moves from the closed position the bottom member forms an elongated opening in the bottom of the hopper, the elongated opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the objects from the hopper.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further defined wherein the bottom member of the hopper is biased towards the closed position thereof, and the bottom member is adapted for being selectively urged from the closed position.
 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further defined wherein the hopper has four vertically extending side walls defining an upper rectangular opening between the upper edge portions thereof and a lower rectangular opeing between the lower edge portions thereof, the upper opening being adapted for placing the supply of elongated objects in the hopper, and the bottom member is a rectangular plate mounted across at least a portion of the lower opening in the hopper, the rectangular plate being adapted for selective reciprocation along a substantially horizontal path to and from the closed position, in the closed position at least one edge portion of the rectangular plate abuts the lower edge portion of one of the side walls of the hopper, when the rectangular plate reciprocates from the closed position the one of the edge portions of the rectangular plate is spaced apart from the lower edge portion of the one side wall of the hopper for forming an elongated opening therebetween, the elongated opening being adapted for releasing at least one of the elongated objects from the hopper. 